Health and Welfare Consequences of Maladaptation of High-Producing Cross-Bred Dairy Cattle to Environmental Stressors in India

India is the world’s largest holder of dairy cattle, with 45 million head, dwarfing the UK’s 1.8 million. In Europe, increasing demands for cheap dairy produce has led to breeding of genetically elite, high-yielding Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle producing 8000 to 10000 litres of milk per annual lactation cycle, but this has resulted in a decline in cattle health and welfare. In contrast, local cattle breeds in low-middle income countries, such as India, may produce as little as 900-1300 litres per lactation but are well adapted to their local environment. These cattle are being replaced or upgraded with higher yielding European breeds but there are often insufficient local resources to manage these high-maintenance exotic breeds at a comparable level with developed countries. As a result, the health and welfare of high producing breeds in less-developed regions, such as India, is often extremely poor.
The aims of this partnership is an exchange of skills and knowledge between Bristol and Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), cementing collaboration between these institutions and promoting KVASU a Centre of Excellence for health and welfare in dairy cattle. This award is of great strategic importance, as it forges important partnerships between Langford Veterinary School and Veterinary Schools across India, increases global impact of the animal welfare expertise at Langford, positions Bristol and Langford at the centre of initiatives under the World Universities Network, and crucially acts as a platform for future funding bids.